Comb profile for comb supports of escalators and moving walkways

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a comb profile for comb supports of escalators and moving walks which consists of a plurality of segments that can be linked with the comb support. Individual or several segments can be releasably interlinked outside the comb support. Segments that are juxtaposed with their front faces are functionally joined by tongue and groove joints.

[0001] The invention relates to a comb profile for comb supports ofescalators and moving walkways according to the generic part of thefirst claim.

[0002] It is the general state of the art that the individual combsegments, which can be made of very different materials, such as e.g.aluminium, plastics or the like, are connected in the region of one oftheir ends to a comb support, in particular by screwing. The portionremaining outside the comb support penetrates into the steps and palletsof the escalators and moving walkways on the comb side, the segmentsbeing flush joined in the area of their front faces facing each other.

[0003] Regarding the fact, that, inter alia, also caddies, carts,trolleys or the like are moved respectively transported on movingwalkways and frequently also on escalators, it is necessary to designthe comb profiles such that a flat angle of inclination is formed. Thiscauses a material reduction, which in turn causes problems if biggerloads act on the single segments of the comb profile. The flush joinedcombs can be individually deformed, as soon as point loads act thereon.Excessive, not admissible deflections of the combs as well as materialbreaks or materials fatigues cannot be excluded herein, so that arelatively fast replacement of single segments is required, which inturn causes an undesired standstill of the escalator or the movingwalkway.

[0004] From U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,257 a comb support for passengertransport installations is known, which is composed of severaljuxtaposed segments. A round rod releasably connects the segmentsprovided with smooth front faces as well as through bores to each other.By means of this measure a connection of all segments can be realised,but the replacement of individual, eventually damaged segments is notpossible without disconnecting them.

[0005] Due to process tolerances it can also happen, that single ones ofthe segments are provided projecting respectively standing back inconnection, which causes a negative optical impression.

[0006] It is the aim of the object of the invention to improve the combprofile described in the generic part of the first claim, such that onthe one hand the wish of flat angles of inclination of the segments canbe fulfilled and on the other hand damages in the area of the individualsegments can be most largely excluded. Furthermore, it shall also bepossible to replace single segments in case of damages without requiringthe dismounting of the whole compound.

[0007] This aim is achieved by the characteristics described in thecharacteristic part of the first claim.

[0008] Advantageous developments of the object of the invention aredisclosed in the subclaims.

[0009] Due to this second junction point a relatively rigid overallconstruction of the comb profile consisting of several individualsegments is formed. By means of this measure it is possible to realisethe material reduction with simultaneous formation of flatwise-inclinedsegments. Point loads do not act any more directly on single segments,but indirectly on the whole comb profile, whereby it is also possible tolargely avoid damages of the individual segments. The deflection ofsingle combs is substantially reduced, which also has a positive effecton the material fatigue.

[0010] There are different technical designs for establishing thereleasable connection in the comb side area of the individual segments,wherein a tongue and groove joint shall be preferably used. Alternativessuch as pin connections or the like are also imaginable.

[0011] The preferred tongue and groove joint is designed such thatsingle segments can be extracted after disconnecting them from the combsupport, so that eventually damaged segments can also be replacedwithout any problems without requiring the at least partial dismountingof the steps or pallets of the escalator respectively the movingwalkway.

[0012] The object of the invention is represented in the drawing bymeans of an example of realisation and is described as follows.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a comb profile composed of several single segments.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a section through FIG. 1 along line A-A.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a section through FIG. 2 along line B-B.

[0016]FIG. 4 is an enlarged representation of the connection area on thecomb side.

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a comb profile 1 composed of several single segments2, 3, 4, wherein the segments 2 and 4 form external segments of the combprofile 1 whereas the segment 3 is one of, should the occasion arise,several internal segments.

[0018] The single segments 2, 3, 4 are connected to a comb support,which is no further represented herein, by means of screws 5, 6, 7. Eachsegment 2, 3, 4 is provided with a comb like profile 8, 9, 10 outsidethe screw connection 5, 6, 7. In the area of this comb like profile 8,9, 10 there are only outlined releasable connections 11, 12 givenbetween the segments 2 and 3 on the one hand and between the segments 3and 4 on the other hand.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a transverse section through segment 3 according toline A-A of FIG. 1. The following components can be seen: segment 3,only outlined comb supports 13, screw 6 as well as an outlined step 14of a no further represented escalator. Step 14 is provided with a treadprofile 15, in which the comb profile 9 of segment 3 engages. Thereleasable connection 12 is pointed out by hatching in this figure.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a section according to line B-B of FIG. 2. One cansee segments 3 and 4 and step 14 including profile 15, wherein combprofiles 9, 10 of the segments 3, 4 engage in the corresponding treadprofiles 15 of step 14. FIG. 3 now shows the releasable connectionbetween the segments 3 and 4, which is composed in this example of aso-called tongue and groove joint. In the area of its front face turnedtowards segment 4, segment 3 is provided with a nose shaped projectionengaging in a groove 17 provided in segment 4. Forces, which areeventually exerted on segment 3, thus do not remain in segment 3, butare proportionally transferred to the adjacent segments 2 and 4, wherebythe deflection of the single segment 3 is reduced or even completelyavoided.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows an enlarged representation of the connection area 12according to FIG. 1, wherein also the nose shaped projection 16 can beseen, which engages into the corresponding groove 17.

1. Comb profile for comb supports of escalators and moving walkways,which consists of several segments (2, 3, 4), which can be connected toa comb support (13), single ones or several ones of which can bereleasably interlinked outside the comb support (13), characterised inthat the segments (2, 3, 4), that are juxtaposed with their front faces,are functionally joined by a tongue and groove joint (12).
 2. Combprofile according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the segments(2, 3) has a nose shaped projection (16) on the front face, which can beinserted into a groove (17) provided on the front face of a juxtaposedsegment (3, 4).